In the end, Red Sox had perfect championship mix

Thursday

Oct 31, 2013 at 2:00 AMOct 31, 2013 at 2:04 AM

BOSTON – Shane Victorino made his major league debut with the San Diego Padres in 2003. Before coming to Boston during the off-season the outfielder also spent time with the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers. For the first time in his career Victorino went through a season without something occurring.

Art Davidson

BOSTON – Shane Victorino made his major league debut with the San Diego Padres in 2003. Before coming to Boston during the off-season the outfielder also spent time with the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers. For the first time in his career Victorino went through a season without something occurring.

"We never had a team meeting all year," said Victorino, who hit a three-run triple and drove in four runs in the Red Sox' World Series-clinching 6-1 victory over the St. Louis last night. "That's never happened with any of the teams I previously played for. I think that's an indication of the type of guys we have on this team."

A team that became world champions last night by winning the title in six games and becoming the first Red Sox team to earn the crown at Fenway Park since 1918.

If first-year Red Sox manager John Farrell believed the team needed to be addressed as one he wouldn't have hesitated to call a meeting. Farrell is authoritative, although he doesn't let his emotions get out of control.

"Our players have been focused from the first day of the season and we've maintained that focus for the most part throughout the season," said Farrell. "I think we have a unique group of players on this team."

It's doubtful the Red Sox would be needing duckboats for the upcoming parade if they didn't make the trade last August which shipped Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Nick Punto and Josh Beckett to Los Angeles. In addition to saving $264 million in future salary commitments, Boston general manager Ben Cherington began the process of cleansing the team's clubhouse.

The Red Sox this year have almost an even blend of homegrown talent, players acquired through trades and free agent acquisitions.

Players on this year's postseason roster who were previously free agents include David Ortiz, Daniel Nava, John Lackey, Jonny Gomes, David Ross, Koji Uehara, Ryan Dempster, Stephen Drew, Mike Napoli and Victorino. Gomes, Ross, Uehara, Dempster, Drew, Napoli and Victorino, along with Joel Hanrahan, who underwent season-ending surgery in May, were all signed prior to this season.

"Right from the first day of spring training I knew this was a special group of guys," said Lester, who won Games 1 and 5 in the World Series. "The guys we brought in like Napoli, Gomes and Victorino impacted the club right away."

"I think you have to give Ben a lot of credit for identifying and signing good ballplayers who are character guys," said Farrell. "Our ownership group, John (Henry), Tom (Werner) and Larry (Lucchino) has been great about giving us the (financial) resources to sign the players we did during the winter, and to be able to acquire during the season a quality veteran pitcher like Jake Peavy."

Gomes and Victorino have helped alter the personality of the Red Sox. They are the players most responsible for the beard craze which has become a New England phenomenon. Although none of the players the Red Sox obtained in the off-season were given the type of irrational contracts bestowed on Gonzalez and Crawford, it wouldn't have been possible for Cherington to make the moves he did last winter if the trade with the Dodgers hadn't been made.

Some of the Red Sox' best players have never played in another major league organization.

"I think you have to give our scouts and player development staff a lot of the credit too for the success we've had," said Farrell.

The Red Sox have had considerable success in recent years with their early-round draft picks. Lester, Pedroia, Buchholz, Ellsbury and Workman were all selected in the first two rounds of the draft.

The players produced by Boston's minor league system have been complemented remarkably well this season by the members of the club obtained through other methods.

"I don't know what it was like before I came here, but if I had to describe what the Red Sox Way means it means to me playing hard all of the time no matter what the score is and playing the game the way it is supposed to be played," said Dempster.

A philosophy which has brought the Red Sox their third World Series championship since 2004.

Boston Strong has become Boston Strongest.

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